Planetary Science Decadal Survey

New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy 2003-2013

Author

National Academy Space Studies Board

Original title

New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy 2003-2013

Country

United States

Language

English

Genre

Astronomy

Publisher

United States National Research Council

Published

March 7, 2011

Media type

hardcover, PDF

The Planetary Science Decadal Survey is a publication of the United States National Research Council produced for NASA and other United States Government Agencies such as the National Science Foundation.[1] The document identifies key questions facing planetary science and outlines plans for space and ground based exploration ten years into the future. Missions to gather data to answer these big questions are described and prioritized, where appropriate.[2][3][4]

Visions and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013 - 2022 (2011) was published in prepublication form on March 7, 2011,[4] and in final form later that year.[1] Draft versions of the document were presented at town hall meetings around the country, lunar and planetary conferences and made available publicly on the NASA website and via the National Academies Press.[4] The report differed from previous reports in that it included "brutally honest" budgetary review from a 3rd party contractor.

The report highlighted a new Mars rover, a mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, and a mission to Uranus and its moons as proposed Flagship Missions.[5] The Mars mission was given highest priority, followed by the Europa mission.[6] The Mars rover proposal was called MAX-C and it would store samples for eventual return to Earth, but the method of return was left open.[5] It only recommended the rover mission if it could be done cheaply enough (2.5 billion USD).[5]

The recommendation for the New Frontiers program was a selection from one of Comet Surface Sample Return, Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return, Saturn Probe, Trojan Tour and Rendezvous, and Venus In Situ Explorer.[9] Then another selection adding Io Observer, Lunar Geophysical Network.[9] (for NF 4 and 5)[9] In the 2011 response from NASA to the review, NASA supported the New Frontiers recommendations.[10] (See also New Horizons, Juno, and OSIRIS-REx)

The previous study, New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy 2003-2013 was published by the National Academies Press, in 2003.[11] The committee producing the survey was led by Michael J. Belton. The 5 panels focused on the inner planets, Mars, the Giant planets, Large satellites and Astrobiology. The survey placed heavy emphasis on Mars exploration including the Mars Exploration Rovers, established of the New Frontiers program including New Horizons mission to study Pluto and established programs in power and propulsion to lay a technological basis for programs in later decades including manned missions beyond Earth orbit.

1995 to 2015, Space Science in the Twenty-First Century, Imperatives for the Decades[edit]

While not titled as a decadal survey, a planetary science plan covering 1995-2015 was published by the Space Studies Board. The report recommended a focus on "Galileo-like missions to study Saturn, Uranus and Neptune" including a mission to rendezvous with Saturn's rings and study of Titan. It also recommended study of the moon with a "Lunar Geoscience Orbiter", a network of lunar rovers and sample return from the lunar surface. The report recommended a Mercury Orbiter to study not only that planet but provide some solar study as well. A "Program of Extensive Study of Mars" beginning with Mars Pathfinder mission was planned for 1995 to be followed up by one in 1998 to return samples to Earth for study. Study of primitive bodies such a comet or asteroid was recommended as a flyby mission of Apollo and Amor asteroid.[12]